Biomimicry offers teachers a way to inspire students of all ages by blending biology, STEM, creative problem solving, design, and systems thinking. It is a practice that learns from and mimics the strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges.
This program does not offer a virtual field trip. Instead, it offers:
Part 1 Professional Development for teachers:
This session is scheduled at the start of the program to provide teachers with an in-depth understanding of Biomimicry and the link to curriculum and standards.
Part 2 In-School Program: Introduction to Biomimicry
This program will use PowerPoint and actual bio-inspired products to help students better understand nature as a source of ideas and the concept of bio-inspired design. Students will participate in an exercise that asks them to match organisms with bio‐inspired products. This will be followed by a discussion of why the organism was used. This program can be done as a 1- hour assembly for a full grade level or done as an in-class program for individual classes throughout the day.
Part 3 Day Trip to Ashokan: Investigating Structure and Function in Nature
To inspire students’ keen power of observation and exploration students will explore the Ashokan ecosystems to look for models of structure and function and participate in a Botanical Art exercise.
Part 4 In-School Program Biomimicry Design Challenge
Using strategy students learned from organisms on their trip to The Ashokan Center, students will be put into design teams to participate in a simple biomimicry design challenge, given time to work on their design and present it.
Standards
NYSSLS: K-2-ETS1-2, 1-LS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 4-LS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-SL2-5, MS-LS2-7 Patterns, Structure and Function, Systems & System Modeling
